Uzbekistan Tours
No doubts that Uzbekistan as a tourist destination is one of the most popular in Central Asia. It seems like obscure to visit it, but it is becoming more and more visited by lots of tourists each year. Well-preserved architecture from the Golden Age of Islam religion is what makes it so popular. The history of the country goes back to the 1 millennia BC when world-known dynasties of Sogdia, Bactria and Khorezm grew and flourished. The famous cities from the ancient times are Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakrisabz, Margilan, Karshi, Tashkent and many others.
During your tours in Uzbekistan today you can feel the atmosphere of dreamy medieval deserts, stretched with a row of camels loaded with precious goods, making over stops in busy cities. Mix of cultures and people resulted in a big variety of customs and traditions preserved nowadays that you can observe during our tours. You can learn crafts of how to make paper, silk carpets and pottery like many centuries ago by making visits workshops in towns. You can taste the most famous pilaf in Central Asian region prepared on fire with meat, rice, carrots and dried fruits. You can participate in different cultural events and enjoy different shows and master classes.
Thus, Uzbekistan is a country that must be visited if you come to Central Asia. Also, we are ready to extend your tour to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and build up a wonderful Silk Road Tour. Come and enjoy Central Asia with us!
Lost in Paradise
Itinerary title: Lost in Paradise
Days of tour: 9 days
Day 1: Dushabe – Hissor – Dushanbe
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your Tajik driver and he will transfer you to the city of Dushanbe. After driving 35 kilometers, we will come to Hissor fortress, dating back VII-XVII centuries. This is a historical place has fortified areas and citadel. The delegate of the Emir of Bukhara used the fortress to be the residence: this was well defended with 1meter thick walls and loopholes for guns and cannons and it was located on a high hill. There was a busy market square with a caravanserai and shops, inside there was a pool and a garden and across from the fortress. Except the entrance gate with its two imposing towers, the fortress has not much survived. In Hisar include other interesting sites like: the mausoleum of “Mahdumi Azam” from 16th century, “Madrasa I Kuhna” from 16th-17th centuries, mosque – the recently restored monuments. Then we will have lunch in Dushanbe. After we will visit Botanical garden and Victory Park with a panorama view on the city. At the end of the day you will be transferred to the hotel.
Day 2: Dushanbe – Norak – Kalai Khum
After breakfast we will drive to Kalai Khum village. You will see Norak water reservoir which is called Tajik Sea. The road goes over the Shuraba pass that is 2 267 meters high. This part of the tour will amaze you with breathtaking mountains in the territory of Pamir Mountains. Over the centuries, the Pamirs have inspired Marco Polo, Hsuan Tsang, Mirza Muhammad Haidar- the world’s greatest explorers. And during this tour you will travel here. The route will go along natural border – Pyanj River. Most of the travelers called this giant mountain system the ocean of white and blue mountains after visiting the Pamirs. You will spend the night in a homestay where you can see the way of local people’s life.
Day 3: Kalai Khum – Rushan
Today’s day is devoted to an excursion to Rushan. After driving 10 kilometers we will come to an ancient fortress. This building was built in 3 century and got restoration in 2013. After getting acquainted with the sightseeing we will keep going to Rushan. Along the way we will see a lot of afghan villages and risky path on the rocks from left side of Panj river. Pamirian life starts from this Rushan region. People here differ from others by their tradition, language, religion. You will have a chance to meet with these people and even have a night in a homestay.
Day 4: Rushan – Bartang Valley – Trek to Jizew
The first destination of today’s trip will be Bartang valley. It is one of the wildest and most memorable valleys in the western Pamirs. They consider the Bartang valley as the most prototypical region of their homeland. However, most of the Non-Bartangi view their compatriots, especially those from Upper Bartang, with reverent respect due to their harsh living conditions, which do not seem to have anything in common with those in the provincial capital Khorog. They are fascinated in the face of the age-old traditions that are still alive in this particularly remote region. We will trek to Jizew valley and here you will feel the really life on the mountains. For that you need one more day and you have this opportunity. In the morning you will continue the hiking in the main valley. The night will be spent in a homestay.
Day 5: Jizew – Rushan – Khorog
We will leave early morning to arrange visas for Afghanistan in Khorog. It is one of the smallest cities in the world. It is surrounded by Rocky Mountains from all four sides. The town was built on the confluence of the 3 rivers where Shokhdara river and Ghund river flow into Pyanj river. On the way to Khorog you will have a chance to meet Pamir people. A number of anthropological features set the Pamir people apart from the Tajik people. Among the Pamiris, there is a high percentage of people with blonde hair, fair skin and blue eyes. Pamirs Mountains are the highest mountains in the world with human population after the Himalayas in Tibet. Life in the mountains made traditions of local people different from Tajik people. The night you will spend in a guesthouse.
Day 6: Khorog
Today’s day is devoted to a guided city tour. First of all, we will visit the Botanical Garden. The city is surrounded by many gardens. Over the east part of the city at an altitude of 2320m above sea level on the coastal zone of the Shakhdara River is situated the renowned Pamir Botanical Garden with unique plants, brought from different parts of the world. Work is underway on acclimatization of plants in mountain conditions. Then we will visit city park and handicraft shop, museum. To feel real life, you should visit local bazar. We will see today the main highlights of Khorog and you will find out many interesting facts about Pamirian people.
Day 7: Khorog – Kalai Khum
Today we will return to Kalai Khum village on the same way we come. This place consists of high Rocky Mountains over 6 000 meters. Because of it only one road was possible to be built. Passing though the Pamirs, the tourists have the rare opportunity to not only marvel the beauty of virgin environment, but also know more about the ethnography, history and everyday life of mountain dwellers and with this imagine how the history of humanity evolved as in the story of creation. Human settlements are located on both sides of the river in narrow mountain valleys. On another side of the river you will see Afgan stony villages and gardens. The night will be spent in a homestay.
Day 8: Kalai Khum – Khoburubot – Dushanbe
In the morning we will transfer to Dushanbe city through mountain road. We will drive over high and picturesque Khoburubot Pass that is 3 252 meters high known as Western Pamir Tract. The nature, picturesque valley, river, gorges will amaze during whole tour and make you to take millions of photos. Also, you will be able to see and observe the way of life of local people. Tajiks are very hard working, hospitable, and kind-hearted and these make the nationality very unique. They respect their traditions and folklore very much. This tour is attractive for everyone, in particular for those who loves exotics, curious about the ethnic and cultural diversity and captivated by the beauty of wild nature. You will have very warm memories. After dinner at the restaurant you will be transferred to the hotel.
Day 9: Flight
In the morning you will have a transfer to the airport. You are returning back your home. This is the end of your ‘Lost in Paradise” tour in amazing Tajikistan.